What’s New & Enterprising

Winter solstice at Sagrada
By Francoise Lemieux

Winter solstice grand opening party

Saturday, December 9, 2–5pm

Sagrada Wellness, Road to Dolores Hidalgo

Email: info@sagradawellness.com 

Winter solstice—the moment that marks the return of the sun—brings the birth of Sagrada Wellness, a new retreat center in San Miguel. Owners Eva Inglizian and her husband, Scott Currie, are celebrating with a winter solstice grand opening party, inviting the community to share an afternoon of walks along Sagrada’s garden paths, a peek into adobe guest casitas, and a cup of warm ponche beside one of their several cozy fireplaces. 

Just in time to fend off pre-holiday stress, they will be offering three-minute massage samples to calm tight muscles and re-energize weary bodies. Local artists Karen Wight and Holly Wilmeth will also be showing their work. The grand opening party is just a little taste of what Eva and Scott plan to offer their guests on a regular basis: nourishment and rejuvenation in a beautiful, natural sanctuary. 

While living in Los Angeles, Eva and Scott had searched all over the United States and Mexico to find just the right place to set down roots to create their dreamed-of wellness center. They were drawn to the exotic high desert landscape of Mexico. The moment they set foot on it, they knew this was the place. The whole area felt sacred to them, so they named it “Sagrada.” 

Sagrada Wellness is located along the old road that connects San Miguel and Dolores Hidalgo. At the entrance is an ancient well, called La Noria, the water wheel, which was constructed by Jesuits four centuries ago. There is a lovely main casa, and, scattered among the original mesquite and huizache trees, are a handful of historic old homesteads. A rock formation behind the main house makes the property feel cradled. “It has magic and history, plus native wild vegetation and old architecture,” says Eva of the 15 wild acres of flowers, mesquites and centuries-old cacti, located 15 minutes north of centro. “It’s charming old Mexico of 100 years ago.” 

Construction and refurbishing began in March 2006, and within a few short months, Sagrada Wellness took shape. An architect, Scott received his master’s degree from SCI-Arc, a prestigious institution known for creating innovative design through an understanding of building technology. He is committed to using natural materials and enjoys creating a blurred line between indoor and outdoor spaces. He built a large, open-air yoga pavilion overlooking breathtaking scenery, as well as four new guest casitas of sun-dried adobe bricks, with fireplaces on the patios and windows that frame dramatic outdoor compositions: centuries-old organ cactus, a cerro of rocky hills, wildflowers as tall as the casitas. Using rocks and boulders from the land, he turned the old homesteads into a treatment room and sauna. Scott’s distinctive style can be seen throughout Sagrada, where traditional Mexican building techniques merge with a modern aesthetic and contemporary amenities (such as iPod docks in the casitas for soothing music)
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The daughter of an emergency room physician and a nurse, Eva grew up immersed in Western medicine. While this sparked her interest in healing, she was drawn in a different direction, culminating in a master’s degree in Chinese Medicine from The Emperor’s College of Traditional Oriental Medicine in Santa Monica, California. Eva is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, a primary healthcare provider, and she has advanced certification in facial acupuncture. She employs traditional Chinese medicine, tonic herbs and massage to promote well-being. 

In addition to Eva’s offerings, Sagrada invites guest instructors throughout the year to teach yoga, Pilates, art and cooking classes and to facilitate in a variety of retreats blending both Eastern and Western therapeutic approaches. Featured retreats include the Winter Solstice Yoga Retreat December 17–22 led by Nicole Currie, who has been a creative asset in the development of Sagrada. On February 16–19, Ann Le, author of the popular The Little Saigon Cookbook, will lead three hands-on cooking classes, teaching Sagrada guests about the Vietnamese principles behind the layering of flavors and how to prepare delicious dishes. 

As the December sun rises later and sets earlier, it may seem for many as if the day speeds by. But at Sagrada Wellness, with a contemplative focus on nourishing food, deep breathing, acupuncture, massage, and quiet walks along stone paths with mountain views, each hour is filled with life. “We are a sanctuary,” says Eva. “We want guests to completely relax, enhance their physical, emotional and spiritual health; and reconnect with themselves and with nature.” 

A bus from St. Paul’s Church, Cardo 6, leaves at 1:30pm for Sagrada Wellness. Email Evan and Scott at info@sagradawellness.com  to reserve a seat on the bus or receive a detailed map.

By the way, Christmas gift certificates are available, and, if you like, Eva and Scott will email the certificates to your recipients on Christmas Eve.